[RTP SRT8]

I previously started a thread asking the value of our SRT8 300C. And I said we were looking to sell, possibly.

My intent may have been more to put out feelers on how this car is viewed by owners and enthusiasts.

As we all know, the SRT8 is the racing, high horsepower version of this vehicle line.

Do you, or does anyone else here feel that being the SRT8 version will make this vehicle more highly sought after than a regular Chrysler 300c?

Let's think about years down the road. I'm not sure about production numbers or any exclusivity or limited editions, but this is the "top of the line" 300C you can buy.

I think we took that into consideration when buying this car over say... a Camry or Altima.

We keep our SRT8 in the garage and it really only gets driven on the weekends, and we keep it kinda like if you bought a collector car.

We want it to keep it's value over the years as a low mileage, kept in the garage collector car.

Did anyone else here think the same about their purchase of this car?

I would be interested to hear more opinions about the investment properties of this vehicle and it's collector value.

Is it a higher profile and exclusive collector type vehicle or is it just another car?

Maybe this vehicle is the start of a new trend by the manufacturers to make high horsepower, sport suspension, driver machines that do 170+, affordable to the regular mom and pop types.

We have a vehicle here that will do over 170 MPH and is compared, performance wise, to many exotic sports cars costing much much more.

Or... Is this just another car... a daily driver... another Camry, Altima, Accord, Ford 500, Chevy SS???

Will this car depreciate heavily over the short term, and in 5 years can we all buy one for $12,000.00?

Either way I know that I personally am very happy with our purchase and we enjoy our "hot rod" 300C SRT8.

I look forward to your input.

 

[Rambit]

I was around when the first SRT8's came out and have one of the first ones built. It's one of 252 plus 11 pilots built for 2005. This question has been asked several times and there are opinions on both sides. Opinions change.

If you're looking at it as a collector car that could be in Barrett-Jackson in 30 years, better stop driving it now. Truth of the matter now is that they are no longer considered rare or even hard to get. Look at the replies yesterday in your other thread.

The 2005 model year figures are carved in stone courtesy of ResumeSpeed's hard work. He estimates the total 2006's built is ~10,000 so that hardly fits into the definition of rare anymore.

For me, I've resigned myself to the fact that whatever comes in the future is anyone's guess. All I can do at this point is to maintain my car to new condition, keep it stock and hope for the best. If you were asking these questions a year and a half ago, my thoughts were totally different. You don't see anyone paying $10 - $20 K over MSRP anymore like it used to be.

Look at the next potential "collector car", the Challenger. There's always something new.

Rambit

 

[NautcaSprt6]

I was around when the first SRT8's came out and have one of the first ones built. It's one of 252 plus 11 pilots built for 2005. This question has been asked several times and there are opinions on both sides. Opinions change.

If you're looking at it as a collector car that could be in Barrett-Jackson in 30 years, better stop driving it now. Truth of the matter now is that they are no longer considered rare or even hard to get. Look at the replies yesterday in your other thread.

The 2005 model year figures are carved in stone courtesy of ResumeSpeed's hard work. He estimates the total 2006's built is ~10,000 so that hardly fits into the definition of rare anymore.

For me, I've resigned myself to the fact that whatever comes in the future is anyone's guess. All I can do at this point is to maintain my car to new condition, keep it stock and hope for the best. If you were asking these questions a year and a half ago, my thoughts were totally different. You don't see anyone paying $10 - $20 K over MSRP anymore like it used to be.

Look at the next potential "collector car", the Challenger. There's always something new.

Rambit

I think the car WAS a Collectors Car when it first came out, but it seems DCX likes to flood the market as much as possible.

Now you say the Challenger, only time will tell if they flood the market with these to. Fine they say only a limited production, thats BS cause thats what they said about the SRT8.

No wonder DCX has such a **** re sale value.

 

[Rambit]

I think the car WAS a Collectors Car when it first came out, but it seems DCX likes to flood the market as much as possible.

From a business point of view, and that's what it boils down to, they need to sell cars and as many as possible. If there's a market, they'll do their best to fill it minus one car. You can't really blame them for that.

Rambit

 

[FreebirdSRT]

It cost a lot of money for the auto manufacturers to make one car model today. In order for them to get there R&D money back they need to sell all levels of the model. From base entry V6's to top model V8's.

Most late model cars are not considered rare collector cars anymore. Todays high production numbers almost guarantee none of the cars will become a collector car. Unless it is an exotic like a Ferrari, Lambo, etc.

What makes a car rare or a collectors is low, low prodction numbers,for a given year. Like the 2005 300CSRT's built. Just over 200. But even then you would have to put the car on jack stands, drain the fluids and park it for 25 years. Other limited production runs like the 1000 Charger Super Bee's being made might be considered a collectors car one day. But again you would have to store the car for many years.

Even the Viper is going to be difficult to catagorize as rare, maybe a few of them collectors. I am not 100% on these numbers, but since 1990 there have been over 30,000 vipers produced.

Even the Corvette, 30,000 a year are made.

They made just over 70,000 94-96 Impala SS, during it's 3 year run. Will it be considered a collector car one day, probably not. But to the owner who has one, it might mean the world to him/her.

The new Challenger will be the same. In order for DCX to get there money back on R&D. They are going to make 30,000 Challengers a year. From the base V6 to the 6 speed SRT.

Another reason so many cars from the 40's, 50's, 60's and some 70's are considered rare or a collectors cars today. Most of the cars production numbers where low. The Chrysler 300 letter cars from 55-65 for example. Each year not many were made. Like 1500 to 2500 a year. 50 years later not many of those models have survived. So it is rare to have one in mint condition.

 

[kevenj]

It's anybody's guess what will happen in 30 years; some of the cars being sold at Barrett-Jackson now for $100,000 and up, were not worth their weight in scrap iron in 1980......

Don't buy any car as an investment; Sure it may well be worth a lot of money 30 years from now, but if you put that same $40k in the stock market right now it will be worth a LOT more in the same 30 years.

 

[teahead]

Unless it's a Dusenberg or some cool Packard of the '30s, four-door cars RARELY are seen as collector material.

Two doors rule the auction blocks.

Just drive the damm thing or sell it.

Future collectibles that I forsee:

- Shelby GT500
- Ford GT
- Viper GTS ACRs
- Z06 Corvettes (2006+, not the earlier ones)
- BMW M3s (E46, but especially the convertibles).
- any Porsche 911 Turbo, but especially the RWD GT2
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage
- Lamborghini LP640
- Lambo Gallardo Spyder
- Ferrari F430 Spyder
- Toyota Supra MKIV turbo cars (that aren't too modified)
- Mazda 3rd Gen turbo RX7s (ditto). These cars are quite rare.



I just don't see very many cheaper cars, two-door or four-doors, becoming collectible like what you see musclecars going for.

 

[teahead]

Also, you have to look at what dudes are driving now in high school and in their 20s.

Old farts who like Deuce Coupes and street rods spend big bux on them b/c that's what they drove in high school in the '50s and early '60s.

Boomers and early Gen Xers are spending crazy money on musclecars b/c that's what they drove in high school and in their '20s.

Right now, kids are hot rodding in their Civics and Subarus and Mitsu Eclipses.

I just do not see these cars getting restored and demanding big bux in 20-30 years. No way Jose. i could be wrong, but I just can't fathom Gen Ys/Millenials thinking those old ricers would be cool in 2020.

It's 2007; time to get realistic on what your Exxon stock price drivin' SRT8 will be worth in 20 years.

 

[Rambit]

Old farts who like Deuce Coupes and street rods spend big bux on them b/c that's what they drove in high school in the '50s and early '60s.

Ouch!!! I think there's a lot of young farts who like them too, such as myself...haha. Also not all young farts are driving Civic's, Subaru's and Mitsu Eclipse's these days either. Look at NR for instance!!!

Rambit

 

[srt8danno]

The only ones that I would see as a possible collector’s item would be the 2005’s with such low production numbers. I also think teahead is spot on about what future generations are going to want to buy……the stuff they had when they were growing up. Frankly I’m going out this afternoon for a nice vintage ricer I can put up on blocks and let sit for 30 years.

 

[hawaiian lava]

I don't know about you guys on the continental U.S. but of the SRT family there is less than 5, I know of 2 but there may be more, Jeep GC SRT-8's on the islands so I think that as of now in Hawai'i that would be considered collectable.

 

[SRT8DRVR]

Where is anyone going to find a working ECU in 30 or 40 years?

 

[DUBSTER]

I really don't know!! lol!!

 

[RTP SRT8]

These are some really good replies. Yes, it is difficult to predict the future.

Also, today cars are made differently than 20-30-40 years ago. And like some peolpe said, it's hard to think of a '85 Supra being a collectors car, in 1985.

I think that we who grew up in the muscle car era all think that the Corvette is what we all wanted or aspired to get. It represented the top performance that Americans had at that time.

Then. who would have thought that a 69 camaro would be getting $100,000 just 37 years later.

I'm not sure that if you put away $2500-$3500 37 years ago that you would have over $100,000 today.

I know somone can do the math on that and let me know if that's true.

I think that it's also true that many of us who purchased an SRT 8 did so because not everyone will opt for the "boom boom diggity" option of the 425HP setup..

Again, who would have guessed at the time that a 70 Hemi Cuda Would go for $1,000,000 just 35 years later. I know that they didn't make the numbers of them that they are making of the SRT8's, but who can tell.

And again, I love the car, we enjoy it whenever we drive it. (although my wife always asks "why do I have to drive it that way, doesn't it use up the tires?)

I think that we get looks from everyone who "knows" what the SRT8 is.

That's why we bought it, exclusivity, style, performance, and classic looks that can't be had for 2-3 X the price anywhere else.

Maybe it will be a classic, who knows?

 

[kevenj]

Where is anyone going to find a working ECU in 30 or 40 years?

That will be the easy part; that's what the aftermarket is for. Right now you can buy rebuilt computers for 15 - 20 year old cars at any parts store for around $100 exchange or so....

 

[OoTLink]

It's not the number produced that matters half as much as the number of cars still in existence, and in that, it's anyone's guess.

Many popular muscle cars today weren't really all that popular back in the day, sold like crap, and many rotted out.

Your only real chance will be if Chrysler's half of DCX gets shut down (pretty darn feasible these days), and the LXes get discontinued. Call me crazy, but the company has gone down the tubes so bad that EVEN HYUNDAI wants nothing to do with them.

 

[rjkusse]

Unless it's a Dusenberg or some cool Packard of the '30s, four-door cars RARELY are seen as collector material.

Two doors rule the auction blocks.

Just drive the damm thing or sell it.

Future collectibles that I forsee:

- Shelby GT500
- Ford GT
- Viper GTS ACRs
- Z06 Corvettes (2006+, not the earlier ones)
- BMW M3s (E46, but especially the convertibles).
- any Porsche 911 Turbo, but especially the RWD GT2
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage
- Lamborghini LP640
- Lambo Gallardo Spyder
- Ferrari F430 Spyder
- Toyota Supra MKIV turbo cars (that aren't too modified)
- Mazda 3rd Gen turbo RX7s (ditto). These cars are quite rare.



I just don't see very many cheaper cars, two-door or four-doors, becoming collectible like what you see musclecars going for.

You're way off on the Z06. It will probably be the otherway around.
2001 will be worth money as it was the first year for the Z06, also, it was the only year you could get a white one. 2003 Z06 will be worth more, since these are the 50th anniversary cars and come with special badging. 2004 Z06, specifically the Commemorative Editions since it was the only year to have factory stripes on a Z, plus it received factory polished Z06 rims and special badging and seats (regular Z has Z06 embroidered in the seats while a Z06 CE has the Corvette emblem in the seats). Plus there were only 2025 of these made in 2004.

I'm sure the C6 Z will be worth something, but besides the new motor, the LS7, there's really nothing that significant that will make them worth that much 30 years from now. IMHO.

 

[MattRobertson]

I have worked for -- and am now the managing partner of -- a company that exclusively does business selling insurance to exotic and classic autos across the U.S. for about 15 or so years. I have to say you guys need to broaden your definition of what collectible is.

We have a very simple definition: Does it have a halfway decent market value? Collectibility of an older vehicle is demonstrated by its market value. There aren't many Yugo's left on the road so are they collectible? No because they aren't worth a plug nickel. Largely because the cars were junk. But they could have become valuable as curio objects.

The Ford Pinto seems to have crossed into that territory, for the very few that are now maintained as show cars. Its not a particularly great car in any respect but its *history* makes it an interesting finger-pointer.

Will the 300 SRT become collectible? As we all know nobody is going to be able to predict the future but I would answer with a 'yes'... but not now. The same goes for the Magnum and Charger SRT's. Over the long term I would say the one *most* likely to achieve collectible status is the Magnum SRT. Not because I am a Magnum owner and as such am biased, but because the world has a whole class of muscle sedans out there. DCX has two, Mercedes has their AMG line, GM is coming out with their Cadillacs and Pontiacs, Chevy had the Impala SS and so on. Its been done and that dilutes the market a little (assuming it doesn't create a show car class down the road, of course). But the Magnum stands alone and as a unique article (yes I know there is the AMG wagon) that enhances its potential for value.

A collectible car doesn't have to cost millions, or even hundreds of thousands. You can class pretty much every Porsche ever made (excepting perhaps the Boxsters and the Cayennes) as collectible. Its just not a zillion-dollar class, but there absolutely is a market for every one of them that exceeds the supply. The same goes for Vettes. ALL of them. Sure there are a lot of them, but there are more people who want them and as those cars age they only increase in value (after they get done bottoming out)... if they don't wind up in the wrecking yard.

Lastly, I think rambit has the right idea with respect to maintaining collectibility. Keep it stock, care for it... and drive the sucker. You don'tt get rich locking a car up in a barn and waiting 30 years. Cars are a dismal investment. Those prices you see in Barrett-Jackson are aberrations and the general market does not reflect those $1 million dollar prices. Its a TV show now. Go to the Kruse auction and you will see three to five of the same cars going for 80 grand.

 

[devilmaycare]

The main Trade guide to used car prices in the UK is EurotaxGlass's, which has identified the following cars as being future classics:

- Jaguar XJS 4.0 (1991-1995)
- Ford Sierra XR4i
- Saab 900 Convertible (1991/3)
- BMW Z3 M Coupe
- Volvo C70 GT
- Nissan 200X Touring
- Mercedes E-Class Convertible
- Fiat Turbo Coupe
- Audi S2
- VW Golf G60

 

[MattRobertson]

oh and another thing, if you want to determine future or even currrent collectibility look for a healthy, active enthusiast community. Preferably one that transcends the internet into the real world. In the olden days car clubs started in the real world and eventually spread to internet email lists. Now they start on fora and -- if they are healthy enough -- move into the real worrld.

Sound familiar?